Indian naval ships on goodwill visit to Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, May 2: The Indian Navy ships INS Kora and INS Kirpan have docked at the Lumut naval base and have begun a two-day goodwill visit until tomorrow. The Indian High Commission said the ships arrived on April 29 as part of a traditional diplomatic exchange between Malaysia and India.

"The visit is aimed at strengthening the bonds between the two countries and the two navies in particular. The two countries are maritime neighbours and the exchange of visits by naval ships are voyages of friendship which help to strengthen the relationship," said the High Commission in a statement. According to The Star, officers of the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency attended a cocktail reception organised on Tuesday.

Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha recalled the traditional historical, cultural and political links between the two countries, and expressed his happiness over the substantial enhancement in the defence exchanges between Malaysia and India since the June 2006 visit of the Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The Kora and Kirpan will take part in a joint exercise with two RMN ships on Saturday before departing for India.